DOMINICANS STAY UNBEATEN, POISED FOR NETHERLANDS IN WBC

As a reward for their latest victory, the Dominicans get a World Baseball Classic rematch against the team that eliminated them in 2009.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched six innings and three relievers completed a three-hitter to help the unbeaten Dominican Republic top Puerto Rico 2-0 Saturday in Miami.

Both teams had already qualified for the semifinals in San Francisco, and the game merely determined seedings. Puerto Rico plays two-time defending champion Japan tonight, and the Dominicans face the Netherlands on Monday night, with the winners advancing to the championship game Tuesday.

The Dominicans were eliminated from the 2009 WBC when they lost twice to the Netherlands in a stunning first-round upset.

“We’re not thinking of the past; we’re thinking of the present,” Dominican manager Tony Pena said. “They’re going to be tough. We’re going to be tough also.”

Puerto Rico will face Japan for the first time.

“They’re the two-time champions of the WBC for a reason,” Puerto Rican manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “They know how to play the game, and they put a lot of emphasis on the little things. We’ll have to play an almost perfect game.”

The Caribbean carnival that provided a soundtrack all week reached a crescendo on the final day in Miami, with the steady beat of drums and the bleat of air horns from a crowd of 25,846.

“This was like the World Series,” said Dominican second baseman Robinson Cano, who was selected the most valuable player for the second round in a row. “It was a great atmosphere.”

Rodriguez (1-0) allowed two hits and departed with a 1-0 lead. He retired all five batters he faced with runners in scoring position, and the Puerto Ricans finished 0-for-8 in those situations.

Carlos Santana broke a scoreless tie for the Dominicans with his second home run in the fifth inning.

Fernando Rodney gave up a hit for the first time but earned his fifth save, extending his WBC record. Dominicans relievers lowered their ERA to 2.01, and the team improved to 6-0 in the tournament.

“This is a triumph for all Dominicans anywhere in the world,” said Cano, who went 1-for-4 and is batting .417 in the tournament.

“We are a small nation, but with good foundation,” Santana said. “We have good ballplayers, and that is being proven here.”

The Puerto Ricans eliminated the United States on Friday but couldn’t get their bats going barely 12 hours later. Their lone hits were a single by Carlos Rivera in the third inning, a double by Luis Figueroa leading off the fourth and a double by Mike Aviles with two out in the ninth.

Players investigated

Major League Baseball is investigating any players linked to South Florida clinic Biogenesis, including the Brewers’ Ryan Braun and the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez. ESPN reported that the league is looking into players with ties to the clinic on the heels of minor league player Cesar Carrillo’s 100-game suspension.

Around the majors

Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State) moved one step closer to being ready for his Opening Day start by striking out eight Astros on Saturday night. The San Diego State alum threw a spring training-high 93 pitches for the Nationals in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss.

• Justin Turner, the leading candidate to replace injured David Wright at third base for the Mets, left New York’s game against the Marlins on Saturday after spraining his right ankle.

• Rangers right-hander Kyle McClellan could miss the first month of the season because of a strained lat muscle.